Life Coach – FLIP Peacekeeper Program

Flat Lining Violence Inspires Peace (FLIP) Program:
The FLIP Program uses a proven strategy to create a safe presence on Chicago's most highly impacted blocks. The model advances street outreach work by engaging high-risk individuals (program participants) who live in neighborhoods that are at a high risk for violence and provides them a daily stipend to be physically present on neighborhood “hotspots” as well as training to mediate and de-escalate conflict.

Participants have credibility and influence with local street groups and are viewed as trusted insiders who are native to hot spots and community. This uniquely equips them to contribute to peace by engaging networks who engage in violence. Participants are also provided with support and resources for their own professional growth. At this time, the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago provides the FLIP Program in each of the three neighborhoods served (Austin, West Garfield Park and Back of the Yards).

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Reporting to the Program Manager – FLIP Peacekeeper Program, the Life Coach I works directly with high-risk individuals in the community and accompanies them as they navigate the challenges associated to current or past involvement with the criminal justice system, work to establish a healthy and stable lifestyle, and overcome barriers to accomplishing their professional goals. This position not only provides services and resources to help achieve established goals, but also uses first-hand knowledge of the community to develop and maintain meaningful and effective relationships with participants, responds in the community as crises arise and draws out participant motivation to reach his/her potential.

The Life Coach I models prosocial behaviors and successful interpersonal relationships, provides the accountability necessary to achieving established goals, and mentors participants as they receive supportive services and attend court dates.

• Utilize first-hand knowledge of the community and street conflicts to develop and maintain supportive and effective relationships with participants
• Using a trauma-informed approach, provide support, resources and accountability to a caseload of 20 participants at minimum
• Coordinate and complete intake process for every participant on caseload
• Establish and monitor participant goals
• Conduct and document in database a minimum of one in-person one-on-one support sessions each week with every participant on caseload
• Document in database the progress of each participant, including significant contacts, events attended (such as court dates) and feedback shared by external partners
• Assist participants with transportation to community supports, court, social service agencies, etc.
• Respond to crises in the community that impact participant safety and/or stability
• Provide linkages to needed supports, such as safe and stable housing or other community resources
• Create coordinated care, addressing gaps in information and services for each participant through regular communication with internal team members, participant family, and other service providers
• Work closely with referring partners and our community-based partners to ensure that goals are met
• Model prosocial behaviors and successful interpersonal relationships
• Serve as a mentor and draw out participant motivation to reach his/her potential
• Assist in facilitating cognitive behavioral intervention (CBI) groups to support participant self-regulation
• Provide accountability necessary to support participant achieving established goals, challenge antisocial behavior and consistently hold participants to high standards
• Complete required annual trainings, such as nonviolence training
• Support and attend annual INVC-wide…